The console is the text output device for system administration messages. These messages come from the kernel, from the init system and from the system logger. On modern small computers the console is usually the computer's attached monitor and keyboard. The LinkStation, however, doesn't have monitor output; instead, it uses a serial connection for console output. Not only does the serial console provide valuable debugging output, it also allows root access!

Method 2 (original)

To enable write support across the serial port, remove the 10K ohm pullup resistor from R75 and install it , or another 10K ohm pullup resistor, to R76. From http://www.larwe.com

To enable write support across the serial port, remove the 10K ohm pullup resistor from R75 and install it , or another 10K ohm pullup resistor, to R76.

HG hardware requires different procedure. Instead of adding 10K ohm, a short wire connecting two pads perpendicular to R69 worked for me (I replaced R69 with 10K ohms, you can keep the original part.)

Desoldering Tip

To desolder an SMD resistor you can apply the following trick:

Take a short piece of blank wire and bend one end into a small U-shape using some small pliers. The U-shape should be as such that you can touch the sides of both ends of the resistor at the same time. The width of the U should basically be the length of the resistor.

Wrap the other end of the wire around the tip of your soldering iron - while it is still cold. You now have a small U-shaped tool to remove the resistor.

Heat up the iron. When the wire is hot enough, heat up the solder at both ends of the resistor and gently pull the resistor away from the pads with the U-shaped tip. Be careful, the resistor likes to end up on the floor.

Stage 4 - The Serial Converter

The serial port signals from the processor are only 3.3V. For proper RS-232 12V signaling, an RS-232 level shifter needs to be added. These are very common in PDA serial cables also, but can be purchased

Models other than KuroPro

If you are attaching a serial header pin onto the main board, you may want to consider:

Using the header pin unit with a 90 degree bend, or you might not be able to close the case

Soldering it with the pins toward the interior, rather than toward the case. This allows easier access, since if the pins face the case side they would be very close to the metal side. This would make access is so tight that one might end up taking the board out to get plug fitted on the pins.

Solder the 4-pin header to the board. Make sure you don't have shorts.

You will need to switch wires on the TTL-232R-3V3 cable. Use a sharp object to lift the plastic tabs and carefully pull the wires out. Rearrange them according to the table above (black, empty, orange, yellow, empty, empty) and slide those wires back in. Tape the other wires to make sure they don't short anything.

When plugging in the cable, make sure black aligns with GND, yellow with TXD, and orange with RXD.

Connect the USB cable to your computer, start a terminal program with the right settings.

Turn on the device, you should see output from the bootloader in couple seconds.

Stage 5 - Using the Serial Console

You may access the serial console using Windows HyperTerminal (included with Windows) or [TeraTerm Pro].